General: The uniform statewide
Family Court system was established by statute in 1976. The Family Court has
exclusive jurisdiction over all matters involving domestic or family relationships.
Pursuant to this provision, the Family Court is the sole forum for the hearing
of all cases concerning marriage, divorce, legal separation, custody, visitation
rights, termination of parental rights, adoption, support, alimony, division
of marital property, and change of name. The court also generally has exclusive
jurisdiction over minors under the age of seventeen alleged to have violated
any state law or municipal ordinance. However, most traffic, fish, and game
law violations are still triable in the magistrate or municipal courts. Serious
criminal charges may be transferred to the Circuit Court.

At least two family court judges are elected for staggered six year terms to each of the sixteen judicial circuits,
and rotate primarily from county to county within their resident circuits. Occasionally
they are assigned to other circuits based upon caseload requirements as directed
by the Chief Justice.